On Friday, von der Leyen met with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi. Von der Leyen hopes to get the free trade agreement signed this year, reports BBC.
Sweden's Minister for Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa is also optimistic.
This is an important step towards a free trade agreement with India. We have received signals that such an agreement can be ready as early as 2025, he says to TT.
Sweden will do the groundwork to get other, more protectionist EU countries to support the agreement, promises the minister.
Sweden is currently the EU's foremost free trade friend. We are acting to get the EU to tear down walls where other countries want to build walls.
Seeking new partners
For Sweden, India is a very interesting market, according to the minister.
Last year, our export to India increased by 17 percent. Calculations also show that with a free trade agreement in place, the EU's goods export to India could double by 2032. We must open up new markets considering what is happening in the USA.
The problem for Swedish companies regarding export to India has been a lot of bureaucracy and administration, and high tariffs.
It could be dramatically improved, says Dousa.
Sectors where Swedish export can increase significantly are primarily chemicals, electronics, and machinery.
Swedish offensive
Another major free trade agreement, the one with the Mercosur countries in South America, is also nearing its goal after 25 years of negotiations. It will likely be voted through in the EU, although it may be with a narrow margin, according to Dousa.
Both India and the Mercosur countries are part of the Swedish free trade offensive. Another country where we are pushing to resume negotiations is Australia.
